MovieChat Forums > Lewis (2006) Discussion > Really bad American accents

Really bad American accents

posted 13 years ago by IzzyTree
47 replies | jump to latest

I'm re-watching Point of Vanishing on DVD, and wow, is Zoe Boyle's (Hope) American accent really bad! I'm sorry, but it's not sufficient to take a Scottish accent and broaden it, then call it American. It's so distracting and annoying. It's like watching a school production. I don't blame the actress, who I loved in Downton Abbey. They should hire an American actress for the role! Are there union rules or something in Britain that prevent hiring Americans for TV roles? This is by far not the only or worst example I've seen in British TV. There was an actress in a Morse episode -- The Settling of the Sun, I believe it was -- and her American accent was also ridiculous. What is it, don't they think Americans can act? Anyway, why can't Brits do American accents better? I think Americans often do Brit accents better than vice versa.

Okay I've had my rant. Thanks. :)

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] lawson14 8 years ago

On Foyle's War there was someone who was supposed to be from Boston and he spoke with a revised Scottish burr. Perhaps dropping the "R" was not in his toolbox. Anyway it was done very evenly.

[–] Jes' Sayin' (6448) a year ago

I think the bottom line on this very long discussion is that a very good actor will do accents well and be able to charge for their services accordingly, and so tend to appear in films and be famous. This type of actor is generally not affordable for the average television series and so there tend to be imperfect accents there.